The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-10
SWUNG INFO ETERNITY.
John Ross, Murderer OF Emily
Brown, Hanged.

BALTIMORE, ND. September o.
John Thomas Ross, colortd, was exc.
cuted at l2:i5 o'clock pm. today for
the murder Oi Emily Brown, white.
He spent the few remaining hours Of
bis life after breakfast in clnsersAtion
with his visitors and In sin shs an In.
vocation to the Almighty. Toward o
o'clock the visitors in the cell tang
"Nearer, My God. to Thee" and al
though R'ss did not repeat the words
throughout, his voico could be heard
u. times clear aud distinct, and with.
on. tremor, joining In the refrain.
lie then cane ont Of his cell In his
shirt sleeveg, and with both hands in
his pockets gazsd for minute or 70 at
the newspaper men, depuiy sher1I
Rnd cfli GERS Of the jlil SANDING
about the lobby. His eyes we're
glfEsd, and he gazed abou' and up al
the ceiling. There was not, howeye
the sli2htesi indication Of nervousness
noticeable In any movement. he made.
About $3.50 o'clock the Rev. Messrs.
Allen aad Reed, Ross's spiritual adj.
ylsers, made their appearance, aud
were shown at once 10 the cell Of the
doomed man. They oKhortgd Ross o
bear mp maniilly under the trying =.
deal, and 10 put his tru I In the Lord.
Ross responded 10 their sIhorlstion
by ttarting tho hmm, "It is Well
With My soul"
The clergyman and two women
Joined In the chorus, and the music
re-eohood throughout the entire build.
The Rev. Mr.. Zlnksan cane in at 10
O'Clock and went into the Gel, just ~
the group around Ross we're singing,
at 10 good 10 be there"
Ross then Gang q solo, "I do not
want TO leave that happy home" aud
II was noticed for the frst time that
he appeared liitle nervous. Two Of
Rofs's relatives, William and Ida
Blocksom, came 10 the fail about lo.45
o'clock, and were at oncs admitted TO
his cell. Res was deeply affected at
the meeting, and their presence
seemed still further 10 unnerye him.
The ministers intoned the hymn an
soon be at home"
There were only those presen, who
we're invited by tho siorin Az the
appointed time RJss started from his
cell 10 the gallows. A lev minutes
later, alter he was manacled aud lhe
black cap was drawn over his face,
the spring was touched aud the trap
fell. Ross died without n struggle.
HE neck vas not broken and he die
Of sttangulation In ten and q nall min
utea
The crime for which Ross paid tho
penalty with his lie was the murder
oian Old vhitolsoman, Emily Brown,
on the night Of tbs 10th OF December
last. Miss Brown was Of good hmily,
and In the earlier days OF her llis
was highly respected, but an unlOriu.
nate love shllr made her recklou. and
she driitoi into dissipation. Some
time before her murder she lived
At the houro Of Mary Bloxam, col
NiAh NViAAN bho mDtutf OF ~ o.. O. nc
killed tbs woman for the sake Of the
money which he could 70. i3r her
body by selling Il 10 the mediCa col.
lsge. The wounds revealed he fact
OF The murder aud led 10 his arrest
and conviction. Ho allsged and main.
ialned 10 the ast that Anders1n Perry,
employed a, ihs institution, ins'i'
gated the murder, ard that Albert
HAWKING, another colored man, helped
10 do the deed but his story was not
believed, and hence their aquiital.
Nav YoRK The Thls,le. wilt Mr..
Henderson on board, me, tho Cily Of
Rome ~ lover quarantine Ibis morn.
ing. Tho steamer had ~ board NJ,
Jameo Bell and Mr.. a. ". Watson,
the owner and designer respectively
OF the Scotch cutter. Mr, Hendenon
vent on board the big steamer as sool
ss she came to anchor, on d.. snith'e
landing at quarantine. The City Of
Rome then proceeded mp the bay 10
her pier on the North rivar.